India’s Supreme Court has ordered the release of all stray dogs that were removed from New Delhi streets after sterilization and immunization following an increase in the number of people who were bitten by dogs.

Delhi's stray dog population is estimated at one million, with suburban Noida, Ghaziabad and Gurugram also seeing a rise, municipal sources say. India has millions of stray dogs and the country accounts for 36% of the total rabies-related deaths in the world, according to the World Health Organization.

Animal welfare members and dog lovers protested outside a stray dog shelter in Delhi, alleging mistreatment. They demanded the release of dogs in line with a Supreme Court directive. Police ensured order during the protest and found no signs of mistreatment,